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Oct. 7 CC Sabathia postgame interview

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Q. You talked yesterday about how tough the middle of their order is. Can you take us through the eighth inning after the lead‑off double and what your approach was there and how you got through that inning?

CC SABATHIA: Just tried to make pitches. You know, had the lead‑off double by J.J., and Adam Jones had been taking some good swings all night, so I was just trying to keep him off balance. Ended up getting him with a cutter. Joe came out and asked if I wanted to put Wieters on to face the next two guys and I felt like Reynolds had been having some good at‑bats this game and the last, so I just wanted to Wieters and try to get two outs and hopefully get a ground out like I did or just get Reynolds to hit the ball at somebody, and it ended up working out.

Q. The Orioles had hit you fairly well this year. Did you come into this game with a bit of a different game plan how you would attack them?

CC SABATHIA: I wish I could tell you I change my game plan but I don't. I pitch to my strength, attacking in, and just going off my fastball command, and it was working today. The changeup was working really well. These guys know what I am trying to do. I've faced them a lot. I was able just to execute tonight.

Q. You guys have watched Russell struggle with the bat a lot this year. How good do you feel for him coming up with that kind of a hit not only for himself but for the team?

CC SABATHIA: It's awesome. He's struggled all year, but his attitude has never changed. He's come up with some big hits in September, and that was probably one of the biggest there. Obviously, it was the biggest one of the season so far. His attitude has been awesome, even with his struggles, and it's not surprising because he works hard.

Q. At the end of that eighth you kind of had a big fist pump as you watched Jeter make that throw over. It was a pretty tight game obviously. That inning, was that the big spot for you to get out of there with the lead‑off double?

CC SABATHIA: Definitely. Having a run off second with no outs in the bottom of the eighth was huge, and being able to get out of that with a tie and give us a chance to get up and score some runs, which we did, was just a big spot. I normally try not to show a lot of emotion, but it just came out.

Q. Outside of the home run, Russell made two big defensive plays in the fifth. How big a part was he as far as what you accomplished tonight as a pitcher?

CC SABATHIA: Oh, he was huge. That play he made on Lou Ford's ball was unbelievable. I had already conceded that that was going to be a hit, and for him to make that play was great. I mean, Tex with the pick at the end was even better. You know, Russ caught a great game, came up with a big hit and made some huge plays, so it was awesome.

Q. What were the conversations like before going out in the ninth and then on the mound?

CC SABATHIA: I always want to stay in, and to get one pitch away or one strike away is tough. But we grinded out all game, but it was just one pitch away. You always want to try to finish what you start. Just one of those things.